Juan Miguel Echevarria to Face Luvo Manyonga in Birmingham Diamond League Long Jump

By Adam Kopet

The Birmingham Diamond League meeting Aug. 18 will host another round of the season's long duel between Cuba's Juan Miguel Echevarria and South Africa's Luvo Manyonga, according to a press release.

Echevarria was forced to withdraw from the London Diamond League meeting last week due to injury. However, he is expected to return to action in time for the Birmingham event.

Echevarria has seen success in Birmingham before. He won the long jump at the IAAF World Indoor Championships, hosted in Birmingham, earlier this year. Since then, he recorded the longest jump in 23 years with a barely wind-aided 28-11.75 (8.83m). His wind-legal best this year is 28-5.75 (8.68m) is the world lead.

Manyonga took advantage of Echevarria's recent absence. He won the London Diamond League long jump with a leap of 28-1.75 (8.58m). That ranks him second on the world list this year.

The South African is no stranger to standing upon the winner's podium as the reigning IAAF World Outdoor champion in the long jump. Manyonga had the four longest jumps in the world last year. However, Echevarria's top two marks this season are slightly better.

Jumping for the last time in his career will be Great Britain's Greg Rutherford. His season goal was to compete one last time for his country, but his 24-9.25 (7.55m) performance to finish 10th at the London Diamond League meeting was not enough to be selected to the UK team that will compete at the European Outdoor Championships. Birmingham will likely be his final long jump competition.

The Birmingham Diamond League meeting is the last competition where athletes can qualify for the Diamond League finals in Zurich and Brussels.